Undergarment for men

ABSTRACT

An item of men&#39;s underwear includes a garment having a front side, a rear side, and a waistband defining a waist opening. The garment further defines respective openings for the left and right legs of a wearer, and includes a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides and which in use is located between the wearer&#39;s legs. There is a pair of elongate support bands extending from and being connected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side. The bands cross each other at a crossing point on the front side are curved to pass around either side of the wearer&#39;s external genitalia and continue via the crotch region to the rear side. The bands cross each other at a crossing point on the rear side, and are connected to and terminate at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to garments and more specifically to men'sunderwear.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

Conventional men's underwear provides insufficient support for the maleexternal genitalia, especially for men engaged in strenuous working orsporting activities. As a result sportsmen will often wear an athleticsupport, commonly termed a jock-strap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As will become clear from the detailed description of preferredembodiments below, the present disclosure adopts a different approach.

In accordance with a first aspect of this disclosure, an item of men'sunderwear comprises a garment having a front side, a rear side, and awaistband defining a waist opening; the garment further definingrespective openings for the left and right legs of a wearer, andincluding a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides and whichin use is located between the wearer's legs; the garment being shaped toaccommodate a wearer's male external genitalia and being provided with apair of elongate support bands extending from and being connected to thewaistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side; the bandscrossing each other at a crossing point on the front side at a positionbetween the waistband and the wearer's external genitalia to provide ameasure of abdominal support on the front side, being curved to passaround either side of the wearer's external genitalia and continuing viathe crotch region to the rear side, to thereby provide a measure ofsupport for the wearer's external genitalia; and the bands crossing eachother at a crossing point on the rear side, and being connected to andterminating at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side.

Having the bands cross on the rear side of the garment as well as beingconnected to the waistband on the rear side at spaced positions reducesthe possibility of the garment being drawn into the gap between thewearer's buttocks.

Preferred embodiments have one or more of the following features: Thefabric of the garment provides a close fit, being formed, apart from thesupport bands, from a stretchable fabric. The garment is configured as abrief. Alternatively, the garment is provided with leg portions adaptedin use to cover upper portions of the wearer's thighs. In a furtheralternative, the garment is configured as long-johns with leg portionsextending along substantially the full length of the wearer's legs. Thegarment may be configured as a pair of tights, in a yet furtheralternative, with leg portions extending along substantially the fulllength of the wearer's legs and terminating in foot portions. Thesupport bands are relatively inelastic in the longitudinal directionthereof compared to the elasticity of the remaining fabric of thegarment. The support bands are provided as tapes or pre-formed bandssewn or otherwise fixed to the remaining fabric while that fabric is inan unstretched state, whereby the remaining fabric is adapted to createa pouch in use for the wearer's external genitalia between the supportbands on the front side between the crossing point and the crotchregion. The support bands are provided as seams formed in the fabric ofthe garment, the fabric being adapted to create a pouch in use for thewearer's external genitalia between the seams on the front side betweenthe crossing point and the crotch region. The garment is provided withan opening for manual access, while the garment is being worn, to thegenitalia for urination, the opening running alongside one curvedportion of a support band on the front side. The bands pass from thefront side to the rear side via the crotch region without crossing inthe crotch region.

In a second and alternative aspect thereof, this disclosure provides amethod for supporting a user's external genitalia in men's underwear,the method comprising providing elongate support bands in a garment ofthe kind having a front side, a rear side, a waistband defining a waistopening, respective openings for the left and right legs of a wearer,and a crotch region connecting the front and rear sides and which in useis located between the wearer's legs; the bands extending from and beingconnected to the waistband at spaced positions therealong on the frontside, crossing each other at a crossing point on the front side at aposition between the waistband and the wearer's external genitalia toprovide a measure of abdominal support on the front side, being curvedto pass around either side of the wearer's external genitalia andcontinuing via the crotch region to the rear side, to thereby provide ameasure of support for the wearer's external genitalia, crossing eachother at a crossing point on the rear side, and being connected to andterminating at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side.

Preferred implementations of this method include one or more of thefollowing features: The garment provides a close fit, being formed,apart from the support bands, from a stretchable fabric, the supportbands being relatively inelastic in the longitudinal direction thereofcompared to the elasticity of the fabric, and being provided as tapes orpre-formed bands sewn or otherwise fixed to the stretchable fabric whilethat fabric is in an unstretched state. The garment provides a closefit, being formed from a stretchable fabric, the support bands beingrelatively inelastic in the longitudinal direction thereof compared tothe elasticity of the remainder of the fabric, and being provided asseams formed in the fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a pair of men's underpants in theconfiguration they would adopt when worn.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the underpants of FIG. 1 in theconfiguration when worn, as seen from below to show the crotch regionthereof.

FIG. 3 is rear elevation view of the underpants of FIGS. 1 and 2 in theconfiguration when worn.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the underpants of FIGS. 1 to 3 inthe configuration when worn, as seen from a position partly to one side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The garment 1 shown in the accompanying drawings is a pair of men'sunderpants in a close-fitting boxer-short configuration with a bodyportion 2 and short left and right leg portions 3 adapted to cover upperportions of a wearer's thighs. Garment 1 has a front side 4, a rear side5, a waistband 6 defining a waist opening, respective openings 7 for theleft and right legs of a wearer, in this case at the distal ends of theleg portions 3, and a crotch region 8 connecting the front and rearsides and which in use is located between the wearer's legs.

A pair of elongate support bands 9, suitably formed by tapes, which ispreferably relatively inelastic in their longitudinal direction ascompared with the elasticity of the fabric of the garment, or by seams,commence at and are connected to the waistband 6 on the front side ofthe garment. The bands 9 cross at a crossing point 10 located betweenthe waistband and the wearer's external genitalia in use, which providesa measure of lower abdomen core support, and are curved to pass aroundeither side of the wearer's genitalia in use and via the crotch region 8to the rear side 5, crossing each other at a second crossing point 11 onthe rear side, before terminating at the waistband 6 on the rear side.In addition to providing a measure of abdominal support, the bands, bycrossing on the front side, serve to define a portion 12 of the frontside between the crossing point 10 and the crotch region 8 and confinedbetween the respective support bands 9, which is shaped to accommodatethe wearer's external genitalia, and in particular the scrotal sac. Toprovide support from beneath, the bands 9 are gathered close together inthe crotch region 8, or may even cross in this region, which arrangementis not excluded, although we have found that the slight bulge resultingfrom a crossing point in the region of the perineum may not be toocomfortable for some wearers when sitting. Additional bands or seams(not illustrated) may extend between the two bands in the illustratedembodiment to define a gusset in the crotch region.

As a result, and especially when the garment is close fitting andpreferably formed, apart from the support bands 9, from a stretchfabric, such as one incorporating elastic fibers, such as fibers soldunder the trademark Lycra™, the external genitalia are supported closeto the body, enabling the user to comfortably engage in strenuousactivity such as sports while wearing the garment, and without need foran athletic support as such. The bands are preferably sewn or otherwisefixed to the fabric of the garment while that fabric is in itsunstretched state. Accordingly, this tends to create a pouch, emphasisedby stretching the fabric, for comfortably accommodating the wearer'sexternal genitalia, which pouch is fully supported by the bands 9. Theadoption of crossing points results in a neater and firmer structurethan one without crossing points, but still with stretch where required.

It is found that by providing a crossing point 11 on the rear side ofthe garment and connecting the bands to the waistband at spacedpositions on the rear of the garment, this reduces the possibility forthe garment to be drawn into the gap between the user's buttocks.

An opening 13 for manual access to the genitalia for urination withoutundressing is suitably provided in either left-handed or right-handedversions, the opening running alongside one of the support bands 9 onthe front of the garment. Opening 13 is suitably bounded on one side bythe support band, and on its opposite side by a band formed in a similarmanner to the support band and attached at its ends, at either end ofthe opening 13, to the support band itself.

Although, the illustrated embodiment is configured as a pair ofclose-fitting boxer-shorts, it will be readily appreciated that thegarment may be configured as a brief without leg portions, or aslong-johns with leg portions extending along substantially the fulllength of the wearer's legs or even as complete tights additionallyincorporating foot portions.

1. An item of clothing for men, comprising: a garment having a frontside, a rear side, and a waistband defining a waist opening; the garmentfurther defining respective openings for the left and right legs of awearer, and including a crotch region connecting the front and rearsides and which in use is located between the wearer's legs; the garmentbeing shaped to accommodate a wearer's male external genitalia; and apair of elongate support bands extending from and being connected to thewaistband at spaced positions therealong on the front side; the bandscrossing each other at a crossing point on the front side at a positionbetween the waistband and the wearer's external genitalia to provide ameasure of abdominal support on the front side, being curved to passaround either side of the wearer's external genitalia and continuing viathe crotch region to the rear side, to thereby provide a measure ofsupport for the wearer's external genitalia; and the bands crossing eachother at a crossing point on the rear side, and being connected to andterminating at spaced positions on the waistband on the rear side.
 2. Anitem of men's underwear according to claim 1, wherein said garment iscomprised of fabric providing a close fit, being formed, apart from thesupport bands, from a stretchable fabric.
 3. An item of men's underwearaccording to claim 1, configured as a brief.
 4. An item of men'sunderwear according to claim 1, further comprising: leg portions adaptedin use to cover upper portions of the wearer's thighs.
 5. An item ofmen's underwear according to claim 1, configured as long-johns andfurther comprising: leg portions extending along substantially the fulllength of the wearer's legs.
 6. An item of men's underwear according toclaim 1, configured as a pair of tights, and further comprising: legportions extending along substantially the full length of the wearer'slegs and terminating in foot portions.
 7. An item of men's underwearaccording to claim 1, wherein the support bands are relatively inelasticin the longitudinal direction thereof compared to the elasticity of theremaining fabric of the garment.
 8. An item of men's underwear accordingto claim 7, wherein the support bands are comprised of tapes orpre-formed bands sewn or otherwise fixed to said remaining fabric whilethat fabric is in an unstretched state, whereby said remaining fabric isadapted to create a pouch in use for the wearer's external genitaliabetween the support bands on the front side between the crossing pointand the crotch region.
 9. An item of men's underwear according to claim7, wherein the support bands are comprised of seams formed in the fabricof the garment, the fabric creating a pouch in use for the wearer'sexternal genitalia between said seams on the front side between thecrossing point and the crotch region.
 10. An item of men's underwearaccording to claim 7, wherein the garment is provided with an openingfor manual access, while the garment is being worn, to the genitalia forurination, the opening running alongside one curved portion of supportband on the front side.
 11. An item of men's underwear according toclaim 1, wherein the bands pass from the front side to the rear side viathe crotch region without crossing in the crotch region.
 12. A methodfor supporting a user's external genitalia in men's underwear, themethod comprising the steps of: providing elongate support bands in agarment of the kind having a front side, a rear side, a waistbanddefining a waist opening, respective openings for the left and rightlegs of a wearer, and a crotch region connecting the front and rearsides and which in use is located between the wearer's legs; andextending the bands from and being connected to the waistband at spacedpositions therealong on the front side, crossing each other at acrossing point on the front side at a position between the waistband andthe wearer's external genitalia to provide a measure of abdominalsupport on the front side, being curved to pass around either side ofthe wearer's external genitalia and continuing via the crotch region tothe rear side, to thereby provide a measure of support for the wearer'sexternal genitalia, crossing each other at a crossing point on the rearside, and being connected to and terminating at spaced positions on thewaistband on the rear side.
 13. A method according to claim 12, whereinthe garment provides a close fit, being formed, apart from the supportbands, from a stretchable fabric, the support bands being relativelyinelastic in the longitudinal direction thereof compared to theelasticity of the fabric, and being provided as tapes or pre-formedbands sewn or otherwise fixed to the stretchable fabric while thatfabric is in an unstretched state.
 14. A method according to claim 12,wherein the garment provides a close fit, being formed from astretchable fabric, the support bands being relatively inelastic in thelongitudinal direction thereof compared to the elasticity of theremainder of the fabric, and being provided as seams formed in the saidfabric.